Chapter 12 - Gen 6 - Lyric

Keeping myself very busy is the only thing that I can do while we are waiting to find out if Mel is pregnant, it helps to take my mind off thinking about it.  I threw myself back into my singing.  I still feel really nervous over this baby problem, that it might not be over just yet, what about if she doesn't get pregnant this time, then we have to go through the artificial insemination process again - and keep on going through it until it does work. I suppose that's one good thing about the program, they don't kick you off after a failed attempt, the process is repeated until it succeeds - but until there is a baby for me to hold, this cloud will always be hanging over my head.

If it is not Forrest lurking around it is Granddad.   I think they have worked out a rota between themselves around Forrest's work so that they can watch me.  They still don't trust me not to go in search of alcohol, I know I am over it, but I think only time was going to convince them, so I just let them carry on with it.

I spotted Mom and Dad together for the first time in a long time, I wandered what was going on with them, it has been years since I've seen them together it was kind of a shock to the system.

I spotted Dad and Forrest deep in conversation, every now and then one of them looked quickly over in my direction for a few seconds, they made it pretty obvious that they were talking about me.  No doubt their subject of conversation was me and alcohol.  Now that I was close enough to their conversation I could hear that I was right.  I am just trying to forget all about it, but I can see I am going to be reminded of it for some time to come.

Dad was not happy with me, which I expected anyway, but he wasn't happy with Forrest or Cain either for not telling him what was going on.  Then it kind of hit me - where have they been anyway my parents???  Nowhere when I needed them, now that I don't need them they are showing some concern and disappointment!!  Granddad said he should never have let me go through it, be he still sat back and let me and so did my Dad, they both could have tried a little more to stop it. My Mother was just standing around, not getting involved with the conversation, acting like she was not interested, it was probably for the best because if she had said anything to me I probably would have lost my tongue and my temper.

Dad I suppose I don't blame so much because he didn't have a clue how bad it had actually got, Mom did after her argument with Granddad over it, but she chose not to tell Dad, nobody told him, not even me.  It was Melody who finally told Dad, but that was after it was too late.

Please tell me you are joking!!  I asked him what he was doing with Mom anyway and he said that they were trying to work things out - they were hoping to get back together - after all this time?!  After everything she has put us all through?!  He must be mad and I told him exactly how I felt and thought, which didn't go down too well with him!!  Forrest watched on quietly, the look on his face amused me, I think finally he realized just how much of a joke my family was.

I could see how huge the crack was in our family - we had as a family unit totally broken apart - none of us really tried with each other to patch things up any more I think the gap between us all began the day we moved to this town and we were split into two groups , me and Piper with Granddad, everyone else with Mom and Dad.  Then it got divided again when Mom and Dad split up.  The Ugli family is a total wreck.

The first good sign that Melon might be pregnant is when she starts to get sick.  I got over excited and they all tried to calm me down, I was jumping the gun - just because she had spent most of the day throwing up, it didn't mean that she was pregnant, she might just be ill.

Lilac and Mel's relationship is not good, it has gone on a downward slide since the Artificial Insemination.  Most of it is Lilac's doing as she is rather put out that Mel is the one having the baby and not her.  The problem with Lilac surfaced quicker than I thought it would, this was the start of her driving Forrest insane!!

Lilac:  "Isn't it getting to you that Lyric is having a baby and you aren't?"
Forrest:  "No why is it you?"
Lilac:  "Yes,  why can't we have a baby like they are?"
Forrest:  "I am happy with the one that's coming."

Lilac:  "Well I am not, I want my own baby Forrest, and I think we should have one."
Forrest:  "Haven't we had enough stress over getting Lyric a baby, and it hasn't even arrived yet, please don't start this now Lilac!!"
Lilac:  "Wouldn't you like your OWN child?"
Forrest:  "No, not really.  Besides it's not like we get the option of artificial insemination, and like Lyric - I doubt I could even do it the conventional way!!"
Lilac:  "If you wanted it badly enough you would!!"
Forrest:  "You know this baby sharing for us was only ever about getting Lyric a baby because he had to have one, not because he wanted one, and you knew that, we would have been perfectly happy without one.  We helped you two get the baby you wanted and you two helped us get the baby we needed.  One child, that is all this has ever been about - not a houseful!!

Forrest:  "Besides, us having a child could be disastrous,  with the state of yours and Mel's relationship, if they have a child together and we have a child together and you and Mel split up - this could blow the four of us apart - I'm not taking the risk - so don't ask again Lilac because I don't want a child of my own and especially not with you!!"

Lilac was really not happy but it did not stop her from bending Forrest's ear about them having a baby every opportunity that she got.  It does not matter how nasty he gets with her, its like she is not listening She is hell bent and constantly on about having a baby of her own and I don't think she will stop until she has got one.

Cain:  "You do realize that you two possible have a public disgrace or two coming your way."

Until Granddad mentioned it I had not really given it a thought, all the gossip, I could imagine will start as soon as Mel is pregnant and it shows. The general public and pap's are going to have a field day with this one.

Mel came rushing up to me, her arms extended a big smile on her face, she was launching herself at me and I panicked at the thought of her touching me.  I put my arms up to protect myself and pushed her off me.

Lyric:  "WOW!!!!  MEL STOP"
Melon:  "What?!"
Lyric:   "What the hell are you doing?"
Melon:  "I wanted to hug you, I'm happy!!"
Lyric:  "WELL DON'T!!!

Melon:  "You know you make me very sad Lyric!!"
Lyric:  "Why?"
Melon:  "Do you ever let anybody get near you except for Forrest?"
I had to think about that one and I suppose she is right.
Lyric:  "Actually no I don't - especially not women!!"

Melon:  "A friendly hug off me is not going to kill you Lyric!!"
Lyric:  "I'm sorry Mel but you know I have issues, stop charging at me like a maniac then I might not get so panicked!!!"
Melon:  "Well maybe you need to try and get those issues sorted out before this baby comes, I don't want him watching you treating me like a leper!!"

Lyric:  "Him??!!"
Melon:  "Yes, we did it, I just got back from the hospital, Melody says the baby is a boy!!"
Lyric:  "You are pregnant!!"
Melon:  "Yes!!"

Forrest:  "What is all the racket about??"
Melon:  "I am pregnant!!"

The three of us are over the moon, but we doubted that Lilac would be!!  I've notice lately, it seems to be about just the three of us, not four, Lilac is making a point of distancing herself from all of us including Melon.

Its over!!  Almost - there is a baby on the way and I am wandering what exactly is going on in Forrest's head.  He looks as happy as we do, but this might well hit him like it has hit Lilac, its alright for me and Mel, this is our baby, it has to be harder on them.  Something we never even thought about when we were talking over this baby sharing thing.

I decided to throw myself back into my singing career, this would help the time go quicker, I hoped.  Time seems to have slowed down, the days and months are passing by at snails pace, like it always does when you are waiting and looking forward to something.

My Mother is still appearing in the park everyday, she is always there when I am working, but most of the time I don't even look in her direction.  I sometimes wandered if anyone noticed the lack of communication between me and my Mother.  I had not noticed Dad with her since that one day when he said they were trying to work things out, I was curious but didn't bother to ask because that would mean me talking to her.

Forrest and Grandad are still taking it turns to stalk me.  It kind of hurt me to see now that Granddad and Mom are not talking.  They are stood side by side watching me singing, they never spoke or acknowledged each other, not even a smile, you can never normally keep them apart.  She now seems to be treating Granddad with the same contempt the rest of us get.  While I think as far as that woman goes, she deserves all the pain and misery that she gets, it hurt me because I know how much it must be hurting Granddad, and he definitely doesn't deserve it!!!

I am keeping myself busy booking as many shows as I can get.  I am spreading myself between four venues, the park, the karaoke bar, the rodeo bar and the coffee shop.

I am selling quite a lot of albums now too.  When I asked Red if she was interested in one, she snapped it up.  I hadn't noticed until just that she was pregnant again - this is her third child in a very short time, I wander if this one is her husbands or Omri's again like her other two.

Forrest:  "Happy?"
Lyric:  "Yes very!!  You?"
Forrest:  "Not really!!"
Lyric:  "What's wrong?"
Forrest:  "Lilac, I am not sure how much more of her I can take, she is constantly badgering me about us having a baby of our own, she never stops and it's now beginning to drive me mad!!"

Lyric:  "You know I could have a word with Melody, see if she can do me another favor and get you and Lilac on that AI program somehow." 
Forrest:  "But that's just the point, it's not what I want, I don't really want a child of my own."
Lyric:   "Really!!??  You say that now, but you might feel differently when our baby is here, I suppose Lilac does have a point when she says its never going to be her child that she wants her own."
Forrest:  "Children have never been an option for me being gay and it's never bothered me, I've never wanted them, I doubt very much when your child is here I will change my mind and want my own child!!"

 Mel getting a little stir crazy being on maternity leave started to come to the park with me sometimes, to get some fresh air and get out of the house for a while.  We decided we were going to be open about the baby we were having, so hopefully by the time it arrived the gossip would have run its course.

 Melody and Melon have started to become very good friends, she is always around checking on Melons progress.  Even though she is busy with her job at the hospital she is finding time to hang out sometimes with Melon, so I am getting to see quite a lot of my sister which makes a nice change.  This gave me the chance to talk to her about trying to get Forrest and Lilac on the AI program somehow, she said she would try, Forrest doesn't know that I have done this, he said its not what he wants now but he may change his mind over time.  With the very long waiting list - he has years to think about it and hopefully it will get Lilac off his back for a while.

Me having another Show at the Rodeo bar gave Forrest another chance to show off with his ability to ride the bull without falling off.

I told him he wouldn't impress me until he had managed to do it on top speed, without falling off.  So he did!!!  I guess that is why he works at the stadium and I don't.

Watching the stars together never takes long, we always end up finding something to talk about, so the stars are quickly forgotten about, I had something to tell him that I knew he was not going to be impressed with - the artificial insemination, Melody had managed to get them onto the program, pulling a few more strings.

Forrest:  "I told you Lyric its not what I want, you shouldn't have done that!!!"
Lyric:  "It is just in case - look there is a long waiting list, it could be four years before you hear anything, you could change your mind before then, I'm not convinced you won't!!"
Forrest:  "And if I don't you are not planning on pushing me into it??!!"
Lyric:  "Of course not, you can always cancel it."
Forrest:  "Well you can tell Melody, thanks but no thanks, you may as well cancel it now, I won't change my mind you know, I know I won't!!"
Lyric:  "Humor me, just leave it in place for now, like I said you have at least four years before it happens, and if nothing else it will keep Lilac off your back."
Forrest:   "I suppose if it will shut her up, but I am warning you, if I say no its not happening, then it won't be and I'm not arguing with you over it!!"

I have started to cook a lot more lately, and Forrest is now left to be a clean freak in peace, Granddad used to get pretty angry with him, they used to fight over the housework, but these days, I don't know, its like  Granddad seems to have given up on living, he is starting to worry me a lot.

He always seems so quiet and tired, it might be his age, and that's all he says it is but it's like he has now completely lost his spark and doesn't really do a lot of anything.  Just repairing a leaky tap in the bathroom seemed to zap all the strength out of him, which is not like him at all, he has always been so active.  I can't even remember the last time I saw him doing any painting.

I noticed the change in him after he found out Mel was pregnant.  It was like worrying over me getting a baby was the only thing that was keeping him going and of course the breakdown in his relationship with my Mother is upsetting him a lot and hasn't helped.  He seems to be content, in his bedroom with the painting of his dead wife, sleeping the rest of his life away no longer needing to worry about the future continuation of his family.

Reading pregnancy books never really gets you fully prepared for whats coming.

I heard Mel shouting me followed by a scream, then a hail of insults, her language was awful and it was all directed at me.  She was double up in agony and all I could do was stand there numb, the baby was on its way and everything I had read about in that pregnancy book had deserted me, I didn't have a clue what I was suppose to be doing.

I got her to the hospital and managed to kept myself calm,  I stopped when I got her to the door, I didn't think she would want me to go in with her, but she did.

Melon: "Come on Lyric."
Lyric:  I'll wait out here."
Melon:  "OH NO YOU DON'T, I am not doing this on my own!!!"

All I could do was take a very deep breath and I followed her inside.

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Chapter 12

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